Cequint Slaps Apple with Caller ID Patent Lawsuit

Apple is facing a new lawsuit, this time from Seattle-based Cequint over allegations that the iPhone and Mac maker is infringing on its caller ID patents.

The patents in question, according to Bloomberg, describe systems for handling caller ID data. Patents 6,353,664 and 7,200,212 describe systems for displaying the location and additional caller information.

Cequint says Apple is stealing its Caller ID tech

Cequint lists companies such as AT&T, Verizon, Google, RIM, Motorola, and Samsung as its clients, and describes itself as

As a pioneer in landline Caller ID, we’ve learned firsthand the value subscribers place on controlling their communications. Now Cequint is delivering Mobile ID solutions that will change the way people communicate in wireless.

The company isn’t saying exactly what it wants from Apple other than unspecified damages, and information about exactly how the company says Apple is infringing on its patents isn’t yet available.

Cequint filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware.

Isn’t Caller ID data delivered to the handset FROM the carrier? And as such, this is AT&T, Verizon, etc. that are on the hook for any damage? It’s not like the phone has to actually have specifically designed hardware from the maker to display it. It’s called a screen. They all have them. But the “idea” of Caller ID is via software, not hardware.